Device and method for handling eggs



Feb. 20, 1940. R. c. PoTTs DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDLING EGGS Filed Jan. 24, 1938 ROYCPOTTS SLM patented Feb. zo, 1940 2,191,061

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR HANDLING EGGS Roy C. Potts, Takoma Park, Washington, D. C.

Application January 24, 1938, Serial No. 186,677

3 Claims. (Cl. 226-18) (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) openable at both top and bottom, such as the .l

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended by the act of April `30, 1928, and the invention herein described and claimed, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the `United States for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

My invention relates to a device and a method for loading and unloading eggs from boxes, cartons, cases, or other containers.

In present commercial practice eggs are frequently packed in standard thirtydozen cases constructed with two compartments, each compartment holding fifteen dozen eggs. The individual eggs are packed in cellular forms, such as standard honeycomb fillers with supporting flats; and in filler-flats such as the Kys Filler- Flat (see U. S. Patent No. 1,970,436). When eggs are thus packed in a case or carton, it was necessary heretofore to unpack them either by taking one or two handfuls at a time or one layer at a time from the case. This involves a great deal of labor and timeand is unsatisfactory from an industrial pointof view because after the eggs are unpacked in such a manner,

`they are not in convenient form to handle in large quantities.

. `An object of my invention is to provide a device and a method for packing and unpacking eggs which will considerably reduce the labor and time necessary to handle eggs in large quantities.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device which is simple to manufacture, easy to operate, and which, in addition to being useful in the packing and unpacking of eggs, is also useful in handling eggs prearranged in cellular forms after or before they are packed in boxes or cartons.

A further object of this invention is to provide such a device and method for handling eggs which can be utilized in connection with a case collapsible case disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 1,850,183 and 2,057,852.

The following description, together with the accompanying drawing, will disclose this invention more fully and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention in one of its forms.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of my invention in an alternative (hinged) form.

Figure 3 shows the alternative form of my invention collapsed.

Figure 4 is a perspective View showing how my invention may be utilized in packing eggs in a case or removing them therefrom.

Referring withmore particularity to the drawing. in which like numerals designate like parts, the form of my invention shown in Figure 1 consists of a base section 4 and two vertical side sections 5, 5, all of which may be fabricated 10 of stiff wire or any other suitable material. In this form of my invention, the sides 5, 5 are substantially in a xed position with respect to the base section 4. In the alternative form of my invention, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, the 15 vertical sides 5a and 5b are hinged' to the base section fia by means of coil springs 3a `and 8b so that the entire device can be folded flat. The coil springs 8a and 8b are integrahwith the sides 5a and 5b and the base section lla, the 20 springs on one side being coiled in a direction` opposite to those on the other side. As shown in Figures Zand 3, the springs 8a are coiled so that the side 5a is on the outside, while the side 5b is on the inside of the springs 8b. This con- 25 stitutes the side 5b narrower than the side 5a, enabling the device to be folded, as shown in Figure 3. A handle 6, which may be formed of the same material as the other parts of the device, is adapted to be removably mounted be- 30 tween the top of the sides 5, 5 and to accomplish this purpose the handle is provided with open loops '1, 'l curved inward and diametrically opposite. The open ends of these loops are just sufficient to allow the upper portions of the sides 5, 5 to enter the loops. The normal flexure of these sides 5, 5 enables them to be forced in and out of the loops. The normal position assumed by the sides 5, 5 keeps them from slipping out of the loops in the form shown in Figure l. 40 In the alternative form of this invention shown in Figures 2 and 3, hinged hooks 9 hold the device in a folded position.

In the ordinary egg case having only one side openable, this device may be used in several ways. For example, it maybe inserted in the case, and the eggs packed therein with the cellular forms. Where the case contains two standard size compartments, two of these devices may be utilized, one for each compartment. After the eggs are thus packed the case may be closed, sealed, and shipped in the usual manner. Whenever it is desired to unpack these eggs, the case is opened and all the eggs in each compartment are simply removed at one time by means ofv the device. (While the device may be utilized with the handle t, the use of this handle is not indispensable and the eggs may be removed or handled with two hands by merely grasping the sides 5, 5.) With the eggs in this position, they may be transferred from place to place very conveniently with `the device, and, as a matter of fact, may be placed on display in such places as retail stores, and the like.

Instead of packing the eggs directly into, a.

case or carton, or a compartment thereof, they may be prearranged in cellular forms, such as the filler-flats i@ in Figure 4, on the device and then placed into the case Atogether with and by means of the device, as illustrated in Figure Li. Where it is desired to remove the device from the case after packing, the case can be.l inverted over the prearranged eggs on the device, then reverted, and the device removed; Where a case openable at both its top and bottom is utilized, the -eggs together withv and by means of the device may be inserted in the4 case through its top which is then closed, the case inverted, and the frame removed by opening the bottom of the case, which can afterwards be closed in the usual manner.

Where this device has not been incorporated in a packed case of eggs, the following method may be used to unpack the eggs: The case is opened and the device, in an inverted position, is in serted into a compartment of the packed eggs. Where a case'contains tivo compartments, such as the case il shownin Figure two of such devices can be utilized, one for each compartment. After the device is inserted, the case is inverted. `FWith the open side of the case and the base of the device resting on a ilocr or table, the case can be lifted oif the eggs. The handles Scanthen be attached to the device and each of the units of packed eggs handledas hereinabove mentioned. This last-mentioned method, however, makes it necessary. to use considerable care whileinverting the case with the side open. For the sake of safety, it would benecessary to place aboard or similar object acrossthe open side to keep the device and the eggs from'failing out while the case is being inverted. However, where a case is utilized having bothits top and bottomopenable, this device may be inserted in the compartments as above described at the bottom of the case, which is then simply closed, inverted, opened at its top, and the eggs removed as above-described by means of the device.

Where collapsible cases are used, such as the ones disclosed in U. S. Patents Nos. 1,850,183 and 2,057,852, it may be desired to utilize that form ofy this invention shown in Figures 2 and 3 so that both the case and the device may be `folded together for the purpose of conserving space after the eggs are removed. However, it is to be understood that the use of that form of my invention shown in Figures 2 and 3 is not restricted tocollapsiblecases and that either form of my invention may be used interchangeably with any form of carton, box or case, or for any other purpose. l

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

l. A collapsiblev frame for handling units of eggs prearranged in cellular forms, said frame consisting of` al base. section,..twc` sidessections yieldabiy hinged to saidbase section, constitutingsaid side sections foldable into saidbase `section,` means for. holding. said .Y side `sections in. a foldable position againsttheyieldable action: of said side sections, and a. handle ,adapted tabe removably disposed. across said side sections.

2. A collapsible deviceforhandiing units. oi eggs prearrangedA in. cellularforms, said. device consisting of a framev having a horizontal base section, .a plurality. or side sections hinged. toiand collapsible on the said base section', yieldable meansfor. normally. holding. said sdesections in a vertical position, meanslfor holding saidside sections in a collapsed formtagainstthe` action of said yieldable means, and` handle adapted to be removably mounted.horizontally; between the top of` two side sections.

3. A collapsible device for handling units of eggs prearranged in` cellulariorms, said.'A device comprising a frame having Ya horizontalbase section, a` plurality of side sectionsy hingedto said base section, saidside-sections beingfvhingedso that they are collapsible on. said. base section, yieldable means for. normaliy holding saidside sectionsin a verticalposition, andnneans.y for holding said side sections in av collapsed form against,v the .action of: saidyieldable means.

ROY C. POTTS. 

